Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.18.26
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Potency Exposes the Disguise
“As the great demon carried Balarāma, the Lord became as heavy as massive Mount Sumeru, and Pralamba had to slow down. He then resumed his actual form — an effulgent body that was covered with golden ornaments and that resembled a cloud flashing with lightning and carrying the moon.”
What the purport teaches
- Balarāma became as heavy as massive Mount Sumeru. Although Pralamba tried to carry Him high on his shoulders, he could not continue at his former speed.
- Great demons can assume different forms through mystic power. When the Lord’s spiritual potency curtails that power, they can no longer maintain their artificial forms.
- Pralamba resumed his actual, effulgent body. The purport compares him to a cloud, his golden ornaments to lightning, and Balarāma to the moon shining through it.
Try this today
Spend a minute recalling how Balarāma’s spiritual potency overcame Pralamba’s mystic power.
Ask yourself
What does Pralamba’s inability to maintain his disguise reveal about the limits of his power?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.